To Columbus, Bishop of Numidia, on Bishop Paulinus of Tegessis

Gregory to Columbus, and so on. [a]

We have long known how your fraternity is distinguished for priestly seriousness and zeal for the church. So we have seen good reason for you to take part in hearing matters that call for rebuke, so that, if they were put off because someone looked the other way, no one would suppose that whatever he is able to do is allowed him. Now you do not need to be told how our brother Paulinus, bishop of the city of Tegessis, is said by his clerics and by those set in holy orders to have gone too far against them in bodily punishment. For, as we have learned from their statement, the matter had already been made known to you before this complaint reached us. And since superiors ought not to have the right to punish their subordinates savagely, we have taken care to write to our brother and fellow bishop Victor, who holds the primacy among you, that together with your fraternity, or with others of our brothers and fellow bishops whom you think fit to call in, he should hear and thoroughly investigate the case between our brother priest whom I have named and his clergy. And let your love give the matter such close and careful attention that what has been reported to us does not pass without a hearing, so that discord is not stirred up in the church, from which it ought by all means to be banished. If the complaint of his clergy against him is indeed well founded, then deal with his fault, which he has scorned to correct of his own accord, with the force of our ecclesiastical decision, so that he may both feel now what a grave offense he has committed and learn for the future that he cannot do more than he is permitted to do. Above all, then, we urge you to put ardent effort into exercising the zeal we know you have for God’s sake. [b]

Further, our brother Paulinus is said to confer church orders through the simoniac heresy, which is a dreadful thing to hear of. So let it be your care, together with the primate or others, to inquire thoroughly into this as well, with all diligence. And if it is found to be so, which God forbid, every effort must be made and action taken so that both the man who has not feared to take a bribe and the man who has not feared to give one may be struck by a sentence of canonical punishment, so that their correction may serve as a warning to many. And before this deadly root gains strength and kills many more, let it be condemned by the decision of the whole council, so that no one may ever dare to take or to give anything for any order whatever, and no one may be promoted by favor, but all by merit. Otherwise the order of the church would be thrown into confusion, and uprightness of life held in contempt, if one who is unworthy were to receive the reward of merit. [c]

Further, we have instructed Hilarus, our chartulary, not to refuse to take part in your inquiry if the case should require it. [d] So if it should be necessary, let him know by letter that you wish him to come to you, so that by dealing with the matter together with him you may better decide what ought to be decreed. In the month of March, in the fifth indiction. [e]